Ch. 1441..1450
Chapter 1441: Business that loses money at 1440
Rake sighed deeply and then said to Tan Rou, “Miss Rou, if you hadn’t visited here, you wouldn’t have believed anything I said, but now that you have seen the situation here, you might understand my difficulties, right?”
Tan Rou nodded slightly, “I can indeed understand your difficulties, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept this situation. We all have to consider things from our own perspectives, right?”
Faced with Tan Rou’s question, the only thing Rake could do was nod, “Yes, you are right, but this is not a problem that I can solve. If I could provide a better environment, I wouldn’t let my team work in such poor conditions.”
Driven by curiosity, Tan Rou asked, “Forgive my bluntness, but the level of technology in Country J is very poor. I can’t see how such an environment could produce someone as talented as Mr. Rake, so I am very curious, did you acquire your skills here in Country J?”
Rake, not one to hold things back, answered after being asked, “No, I have been to many countries and have studied the scientific knowledge from many countries.”
It was certain that the countries Rake had visited were more developed than his own, and those countries certainly tried to retain him, but he didn’t stay in those countries, and instead returned to his technologically backward homeland. He was very patriotic.
Unfortunately, his patriotic spirit was not valued by the king, otherwise he wouldn’t be working under such difficult conditions.
“Miss Rou, I will report the situation to my superiors and try to secure the best research conditions possible for you,” said Rake, “but you should not keep your hopes too high because they won’t listen to me.”
“And even if you do report it and the senior leaders listen, they won’t be able to get the things we need,” Tan Rou said. “For us at TR, all the equipment we use is the most advanced in the world. If we can’t buy the equipment we want from outside, we make it ourselves and then develop new products.”
Rake nodded and said, “Yes, I am familiar with the TR company, it has been very prominent in Country C in recent years, and your company’s technology is very advanced as well.”
Tan Rou continued, “Mr. Rake, not to hide it from you, initially I did not want to cooperate with your country. This deal is unprofitable in the short term from any perspective. Mr. Lin and my fiancé went to school together, and he is friends with Prince Laka. It was under his persuasion that we took on this project, but the attitude of your country really makes me angry, even when TR was just established, we didn’t conduct research under such difficult conditions!”
As Tan Rou spoke more, she grew increasingly angry, unleashing a long speech that left Rake bewildered. He said, “Miss Rou, please slow down, I can’t keep up with your pace.”
Tan Rou momentarily fell silent, “Never mind, I’m not even expecting you to procure new equipment anymore, just free up a larger lab for me. I will transport machinery from my own country.”
Not fully understanding Tan Rou’s point, Rake asked, “Miss Rou, what machinery are you planning to transport here?”
Tan Rou replied wearily, “The machines needed for work. The machines produced in your country are too awful, and I’m worried they’ll drive my staff to despair, so I have to bring in machines from my country that are suitable for their use.”
Rake expressed his gratitude profoundly, “Thank you for understanding our difficulties. This really moves me a lot.”
Pressing her forehead, Tan Rou said, “I don’t need your emotion. I just need you to find me a better laboratory. The machines will take a while to get here, and during this time, you need to ensure my staff are using the best equipment available here.”
This was something Rake could guarantee, and he responded, “Alright, I will immediately get new equipment for your team.”
Tan Rou did not expect Rake to provide very high-quality equipment but hoped the equipment would be sufficient for the current research needs.
“Alright, let’s leave it at that, I need to leave now as I still have to see my team members,” Tan Rou finished her coffee, “Thank you for the hospitality, the coffee was good, I hope our cooperation can be as good.”
Chapter 1442: 1441 Safe Zone
“Are you looking for Miss Shang Jin and the others?” Rake, always very mindful of manners, immediately stood up and said, “I can take you to them.”
Tan Rou was not very familiar with the area, so having Rake guide her would be much more convenient. Moreover, she was also a bit concerned about where Lin Yu had gone. He said he came here to watch the excitement, but what could possibly be exciting about this desolate place?
Rake led Tan Rou around the research building, taking a long detour before they finally arrived at a fairly spacious experimental area. The equipment here seemed better, probably arranged by Rake.
Shang Jin was walking out with her paper experimental data when she reached the door and saw Tan Rou.
“Tan Rou!” Shang Jin quickly turned off the translator she was wearing and rushed to Tan Rou’s side, “Tan Rou, I’ve missed you so much!”
Tan Rou said with a smile, “It’s only been a day since we’ve seen each other, why are you acting as though it’s been a long time?”
...
Shang Jin said, “You don’t know. Time drags on so slowly here, although it’s only been a day since I’ve seen you, it feels like it’s been a year.”
Tan Rou raised an eyebrow, “That won’t do. When summer vacation is over, I have to return to my country, and you guys will stay here to work. If time drags on like this for you, are we even going to continue with our work here or not?”
Shang Jin was just joking. She laughed and said, “Oh, of course, work has to be taken seriously. You can come and check, I assure you I haven’t been slacking off with them.”
Tan Rou had great trust in Shang Jin. Even though she might complain about the working conditions here, she would never approach her work with a slack attitude. Anything assigned to her, she would complete with seriousness.
“Tan Rou, have you finished with the matter over there?” Shang Jin asked, “So quickly? I thought it would take much longer.”
Tan Rou glanced at Rake, who was beside her, then spoke to Rake in the language of Country J, “Mr. Rake, thank you for bringing me here. Now that I’ve found my team members, I won’t need to trouble you with anything else here. If you have work to attend to, you can go back to it now.”
Rake could tell that Tan Rou wanted to have a private conversation with her team members, so he did not linger. He said, “If Miss Tan Rou needs any help, you can call me.”
They had exchanged contact information the first day they met, to facilitate future work coordination.
“Alright,” Tan Rou nodded slightly.
Once Rake had left, Tan Rou whispered to Shang Jin, “Go and call Lang Yue out. We need to find a quiet place to talk. I have something very important to tell you.”
Seeing the severity in Tan Rou’s expression, Shang Jin immediately nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll go find him now.”
It wasn’t long before Lang Yue came out from inside the lab. Seeing Tan Rou, he did not show the same excitement as Shang Jin but instead offered a slight smile, “Boss, have you finished your business?”
“Not yet,” Tan Rou shook her head, saying, “Come with me, I have a few things to instruct you on.”
Both of them fell silent. They had never seen such an expression on Tan Rou’s face before, so they realized the gravity of the situation she was about to discuss.
Avoiding surveillance and the crowd, Tan Rou led the two to a corner before speaking directly, “There may be a change within Country J, specifically in terms of royal succession, which could lead to some minor conflicts and perhaps even the use of firearms. Faced with such a situation, are you afraid?”
Shang Jin and Lang Yue looked at each other, shock apparent in their eyes.
Tan Rou continued, “The lab is quite far from the palace, so it should not be affected by any conflicts; it’s relatively safe here. If you want to leave, I’ll find a way to get you out.”
“And what about you?” Shang Jin asked, “If we leave, are you going to stay here by yourself?”
Tan Rou did not mention that Zhuang Liu would come; she nodded, “Yes, I will stay here, because I have even more important things to take care of.”
Shang Jin said, “Then I’ll stay here too. If you run into danger, at least we can keep each other company.”
Lang Yue immediately declared, “Both of you are girls; it certainly won’t be safe for you to stay here alone. If you really want to stay, I’ll stay to protect you.”
Chapter 1443: I will protect you guys.
Tan Rou was touched, and she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you get hurt. I won’t come over here now; I’m mainly staying at the palace. If anything happens, I will notify you immediately. Moreover, my friend will come over on a private plane. If war is about to break out, then I will have him take you away in advance.”
Shang Jin didn’t agree, “You send them away; I want to stay with you anyway.”
Tan Rou advised, “Sister Shang Jin, you should go with them. The project is not finished yet, and the subsequent work still needs you.”
Shang Jin replied, “Anyone can do this job. Even if I’m not there, there’s still Lang Yue and the other team members. Once they return to the country and the conditions improve, there’s no reason for them to screw up the work.”
Tan Rou wanted to say more but was stopped by Shang Jin. Shang Jin said, “Tan Rou, if it weren’t for you, I might have already died by now. With so many people suffering from depression, my severely burned face would definitely have led to depression. I dare not imagine what my end would be like if that happened. You saved my life, so even if you ask me to give it back to you, I am willing.”
Tan Rou’s heart was somewhat sour, “Sister Shang Jin…”
“Don’t you say another word!” Shang Jin frowned, a bit angrily, “If you don’t let me stay, then I will resign from your company and never talk to you again.”
Tan Rou, with a mix of laughter and tears, could only agree, “Okay, you can stay, but you must ensure your own safety. If you encounter chaos, find a place to hide immediately.”
Shang Jin said, “I know, I’m not dumb.”
Shang Jin and Lang Yue are good friends of Tan Rou. They have been helped by her, so when Tan Rou faced danger, they chose to stay. But they couldn’t impose their will on others; if other team members wanted to leave, Tan Rou would arrange for their departure.
Tan Rou said, “Sister Shang Jin, Brother Lang Yue, if there’s a trend of war breaking out, I will notify you in advance. Then, you can tell the other team members to leave on the private plane. But don’t reveal this news now; it could cause chaos.”
She wasn’t afraid of team members leaving now, but she feared their departure might trigger chaos within the J country laboratory since it would definitely require a reason.
If they simply said the conditions were too harsh and they couldn’t accept the environment here, others might not believe it. After all, the team leader is staying behind; why should other members leave?
Moreover, it’s inevitable that someone might let slip the internal conflicts of the royal family. Human hearts are hard to fathom, and mouths are hard to muzzle.
“Okay, we will listen to you and do whatever you tell us,” Shang Jin said, “Tan Rou, no matter what, I will always stand by your side. As long as you need my help, I will definitely help you.”
Tan Rou said with a smile, “Thank you, Sister Shang Jin.”
Lang Yue also expressed his stance, “Boss, you can discuss anything with us. Although our abilities are limited, three heads are better than one.”
Tan Rou nodded, “Thank you, Brother Lang Yue.”
After they finished speaking, Shang Jin and Lang Yue went back to work, while Tan Rou stood there for a while longer, took another look around, and then left.
Although Shang Jin and Lang Yue requested to stay, if it really came down to danger, Tan Rou would still insist on their departure. Both Shang Jin and Lang Yue were only children, and their families and loved ones were waiting for their return. Tan Rou had to ensure their safety.
No matter what happened, Tan Rou would do everything in her power to protect the safety of her team members.
Having dealt with one problem, Tan Rou had to handle another. Zhuang Liu sent her a message that the person delivering things to her was already on the way, and she had to go back to the palace once more to discuss the treatment plan with Princess Samiyi.
Speaking of returning to the palace, Tan Rou needed to find Lin Yu because there was only one car. If Tan Rou asked the driver to take her back, then Lin Yu would have no car to return in.
Tan Rou called Lin Yu and said, “I’ve finished my business, have you finished watching the excitement?”
Chapter 1444: Harassment in Elevator 1443
Lin Yu replied, “Oh, I’m almost done here too. Wait for me a moment, I’ll have the driver wait for us downstairs immediately.”
Tan Rou didn’t ask what he was going to see; she merely said indifferently, “Oh, then I’ll go down to the lobby and wait.”
When taking the elevator downstairs, Tan Rou saw that group of aristocrats drinking coffee again. They were laughing and chatting, with some ridiculing Rake and his associates for not knowing how to enjoy life, calling them fools.
Tan Rou found it amusing—those who work diligently couldn’t get good treatment, while the idle ones occupied the nation’s best resources. How could such a country retain talents? She truly hoped Rake would follow her back to her country; with that, TR company would gain another top talent.
The elevator was quite crowded, and feeling hot, Tan Rou found a corner to stand in, trying to minimize her presence as much as she could.
But her not seeking others out didn’t mean they wouldn’t seek her out. The young aristocrats on the elevator saw a foreign beauty in a corner and immediately surrounded her.
The people from Country J were rather tall; the tallest among them was about ten centimeters taller than Zhuang Liu. Being encircled by such a group of men was indeed quite oppressive.
If it were any other girl, she might have already been crying from fear, but Tan Rou wasn’t afraid in the least. She was just there to ride the elevator, and if they dared to bother her, then she would have a human sandbag to use today. She had been holding back her anger due to issues with the equipment and was actually looking for a release.
“Beauty, where are you from?” the tallest man asked.
Tan Rou didn’t intend to respond because the man spoke in Country J’s language, allowing her to pretend she couldn’t understand.
Realizing this issue, the man turned to his companions and asked, “Hey, can you tell which country she’s from?”
The man beside him with an earring said, “She has the face of an Oriental, so I guess she’s from Country C. Plus, did you forget what was said at the last meeting? Our leader mentioned that a dozen folks from Country C were coming here to work and we were to make them feel welcome. I caught a glimpse this morning, and indeed, there were a few beauties among them.”
“Oh, so who here speaks Country C’s language?” the tall man said, “Tell this beauty to leave her contact information, and I’ll invite her to dinner tonight.”
His companion laughed, “Are you really planning to invite her for dinner, or do you intend to ‘have’ her for dinner?”
The tall man laughed loudly, “She’s so pretty, I can’t believe she’s into research. She must be some male researcher’s wife, or perhaps even his mistress brought over here.”
Tan Rou clenched her fist, barely resisting the urge to strike.
“Enough talk, just ask her,” the tall man commanded, his words carrying the weight of an order.
The man with the earring responded, “I don’t speak Country C’s language; it’s too hard to learn. But I can speak the international common language. I’ll try to communicate with her and see if she understands.”
After saying that, he changed his tone of voice, “Beautiful miss, are you from Country C? May I have your name?”
Tan Rou feigned a confused expression, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.
“Oh, she doesn’t understand the international common language,” said the man with the earring. “I think you shouldn’t bother trying to communicate with her. There’s no one else here anyway; you can just do whatever you want, we’ll cover for you.”
“You guys are truly my good brothers. After I chat with her, I’ll let her chat with you,” the tall man said.
The group of young aristocrats burst into laughter, “Great.”
“What would you like to chat about?” Tan Rou crossed her arms and hooked up a slight smile, “Perhaps we could chat somewhere else.”
The tall man was shocked, “You understand what we’re saying? No, you speak our country’s language!”
Tan Rou switched to another language, “Yes, so I heard everything you just said.”
The man with the earring was also shocked, “She is speaking the international common language.”
At that moment, Tan Rou switched to a very obscure language and cursed, “A bunch of idiots.”
Though they didn’t understand, it didn’t stop them from getting the gist, “Are you cursing us?”
Chapter 1445: 1444 both talented in letters and martial arts
Tan Rou spread her hands and replied to them in Japanese, “You can look for a translator yourselves, I won’t help you translate.”
The tall man threatened, “Little girl, there is only you here, and we have so many people. I advise you not to talk nonsense. If we get angry, and our fists land on your body, it will hurt.”
Tan Rou moved her neck slightly, “Hmm, go on, I’m listening.”
The tall man chuckled, “Young lady, you better not tell anyone about what happened inside the elevator today, otherwise… heh heh heh…” He let out a sinister laugh.
Tan Rou glanced at him and then said, “This place is too cramped, let’s talk somewhere else.”
Moreover, fighting in an elevator was also unsafe, and Tan Rou would not joke with her life.
...
However, the tall man was not willing, and he liked some excitement, so he made a move on Tan Rou right there in the elevator.
“Little girl…” the tall man intended to reach out and touch Tan Rou’s face.
Tan Rou’s expression changed, the smile on her face disappeared in an instant, and then screams echoed through the elevator.
“Ahh—” the tall man’s eyes bulged, “My hand!”
Tan Rou pinched his entire palm with two fingers. His palm was completely turned over, palm facing up, with an angle less than 90 degrees between palm and arm, clearly in pain.
Seeing the tall man getting hit, several noble sons beside him immediately sought to avenge him. The space in the elevator was confining, and their movements were quite large. Before they could even strike at Tan Rou, she had already beaten them, causing them to howl in pain.
Just then, the elevator stopped at the third floor, and as the doors opened, people outside were about to enter. They heard the screams from inside, and then two men rolled out from the elevator.
Tan Rou reacted swiftly, barking fiercely at the people outside, “Get lost!”
The person no longer took the elevator, and ran off at the drop of a hat, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Those by the elevator, witnessing the scene, all steered clear of it.
Three people remained inside the elevator, and they were very unlucky. Tan Rou was not in a good mood, and it was perfect timing to vent it on them. She grabbed one of the men’s arms and twisted it until it broke. Another round of screams came from the elevator, and listeners thought it was haunted.
The elevator started descending from the third floor to the first floor. It only took ten seconds, but for those who were beaten, it felt like a century.
“Help, help!” the tall man’s voice was almost gone.
When the elevator reached the ground floor, Tan Rou kicked the tall man out, then picked up the other two lying by the elevator wall, and tossed them outside.
After doing all this, Tan Rou patted her hands and asked, “Gentlemen, where shall we go to chat next?”
The noble sons who were taught a lesson by Tan Rou were rolling on the ground and screaming, “Someone come, someone come! Catch this foreign woman!”
Tan Rou let out a light laugh and said, “Come on, let’s have a good talk today!”
The dozing security guard heard the screams and immediately came over with a baton. Upon seeing the noble sons lying on the ground, they aimed their sticks at Tan Rou.
“What did you do?” asked a security guard.
Tan Rou pointed with her chin and replied, “Are you blind? I’m beating someone.”
The security guard angrily said, “Do you know who you’re hitting?”
“I do,” Tan Rou replied nonchalantly, “If it were someone else, I might not even want to hit them.”
The security guards, seeing the arrogant demeanor of the foreign woman, got infuriated, “Don’t be arrogant!” With that, they swung their batons at her.
Tan Rou quickly snatched one of the batons and then lashed out at them, aiming deliberately at the fleshier parts of their bodies.
Suddenly, the lobby was filled with screams.
Lin Yu had just come down from another elevator, and when he spotted the figure wielding the baton among the crowd, his eyes were transfixed.
He hadn’t seen wrong. Tan Rou was truly formidable – scholarly in her research and capable of taking on a group in a fight. Oh, that was a mistake, she wasn’t fighting a group; she was merely beating up a bunch of people single-handedly.
Chapter 1446: King’s order 1445
Lin Yu couldn’t pass up this opportunity. He quickly pulled out his high-definition video camera and started recording.
Tan Rou didn’t use her full strength, holding back a bit of power. If she had, she could have killed someone with a single strike. She wanted to teach these unreasonable people a lesson, but she didn’t intend to take a life.
It was only when there were no standing people left that Tan Rou threw away the stick in her hand and asked, “Does anyone else want to give it a try? If you do, better make it quick.”
The man who had started the trouble got up from the ground. Covering his injured wrist with his uninjured hand, he said, “You’ll see, my dad will never let you get away with this!”
“Oh,” Tan Rou said indifferently, “that’s fine, you can tell your dad to come find me.” She took out a very small device from her pocket and played a recording from the elevator.
After listening to the recording, the tall man was still not afraid and shouted at Tan Rou, “What does this recording prove? My dad is a Duke, he will definitely take revenge for me.”
Tan Rou naturally didn’t think this recording would threaten these noble scions, but she didn’t record it for them to listen. She meant to play it for the person with the most power.
In this country, no one has more power than the King. As long as His Majesty the King was on Tan Rou’s side, she wouldn’t get into trouble. However, His Majesty the King probably didn’t have time to listen to the recording recently, but that wasn’t an issue, the King had a sister.
Tan Rou tapped a few times on her phone and sent the recording to Princess Samiyi.
Soon, she got a reply. Samiyi told her the issue was resolved and asked her not to be angry.
Tan Rou was indeed angry, but not because she had encountered these rude noble sons. What really irritated her was the outdated equipment in the research building. Now that she had dealt with those men, her anger dissipated, and everything seemed right in her eyes.
“You just wait, my father will come for you soon, and when he does, you won’t be leaving our country alive!” the tall man said through gritted teeth.
Tan Rou pointedly asked, “Oh, is your father’s power that great?”
“Of course it is. My father is very powerful. Even His Majesty the King has to show some respect to him,” the tall man bragged.
Lin Yu put away his video camera, walked up to them, and said to the arrogant man, “Mr. Xite, I advise you to talk less. If you keep on, your father won’t be able to save you either.”
Tan Rou stopped Lin Yu, “Mr. Lin, don’t interrupt him, let him continue. I am quite curious to know how his father plans to deal with me.”
Lin Yu said helplessly, “Miss Rou, we have important business to attend to. Let’s not waste time here. They’re not worth it.”
Tan Rou disagreed, “I quite enjoy talking with them. We had a pleasant chat in the elevator earlier. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them.”
Lin Yu rolled his eyes. A pleasant chat? Wasn’t that just one-sided harassment?
Just then, a squad of guards suddenly burst in and headed straight toward Tan Rou. Tan Rou thought it was that noble son’s father coming to settle accounts with her and was ready to fight again when the leading guard spoke.
“Miss Rou, I apologize for the disturbance today. We are here by His Majesty the King’s command to escort you back to the palace. Please come with us,” the lead guard said.
Tan Rou nodded slightly, “Alright, let’s go.”
The King was still bedridden, so these guards must have been arranged by Samiyi. Tan Rou thought Samiyi was quite efficient; she had just sent the message, and Samiyi had already arranged for someone to escort her.
“She can’t leave!” Xite blocked their way, “She broke my hand, and she must be punished!”
The guard gave Xite a glance, then moved him aside, “Miss Rou, we are here by His Majesty the King’s orders to take you back. His Majesty has decreed that if anyone obstructs, shoot on sight.”
With those words, the guard took out a black pistol from his belt holster, then loaded the chamber with bullets.
Chapter 1447: Princess 1446’s mettle
Others might not recognize whether the gun was real or fake, but Tan Rou, who had used guns before, could easily discern its quality. The guard was not only carrying a real gun but also a very good one.
The guard repeated, “His Majesty the King has sent us to escort Miss Rou back. If anyone attempts to stop us, they will be shot on the spot!” After speaking, he glanced at Xite, who had collapsed back onto the ground.
Xite, after all, was a rich young master and had never been threatened with a gun before. Seeing the firearm in the guard’s hand, he was so frightened that his legs went weak, but he still blustered, “You… do you dare shoot me? My father is a Duke!”
Without a word, the guard silently fixed a silencer to the muzzle of his handgun, then aimed it at Xite.
Xite scooted back on the ground, “You… you wouldn’t dare shoot me…”
“Bang—”
...
“Crash—”
The sound echoed through the hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded; they had thought the guard was just bluffing, not that he would actually fire.
However, the guard hadn’t shot Xite; he’d hit the vase behind him instead. The vase shattered instantly, and the shards flew onto Xite’s back, frightening him so much that he wet his pants.
To this, the guard simply said indifferently, “Oh, my hand slipped, I missed.”
“Ah—” Xite screamed, “Murder, murder!”
The guard put away his gun, then executed a bow, “Miss Rou, please allow us to escort you away.”
Tan Rou paused, then regaining her composure, she said to the guard, “Oh, alright. But aren’t you offending the Duke by doing this? Aren’t you afraid?”
The guard replied, “We only obey His Majesty the King’s orders. Whatever His Majesty instructs us to do, we do, without concern for anything else.”
Tan Rou realized the identity of these men; they were not just guards, but royal guardsmen. She hadn’t expected this country to still have royal guards, nor had she anticipated Princess Samiyi being able to command the King’s royal guards.
From her observations, this group of men was in excellent physical condition, and each was armed with a gun. If Tan Rou were to fight them, she imagined it would take quite an effort. Fortunately, they were not there to settle scores with her but to escort her back.
Samiyi sent her a message: “Miss Rou, has His Majesty the King’s Royal Guard reached you?”
Oh, so these men were not just any guards, but His Majesty the King’s Royal Guard! Indeed, if they were responsible for the King’s safety, they must be exceptional.
She replied to Samiyi, “They’ve reached me, we’re about to head back.”
Samiyi said, “You don’t have to worry. No one will trouble you anymore. Leave all the matters to me.”
Tan Rou finally saw Samiyi’s capabilities. She was decisive and brave. When Tan Rou first met her, she thought Samiyi was like a canary confined to the palace; she hadn’t expected her to be a slumbering lioness, poised to become the Lion King upon awakening!
Throughout it all, Tan Rou had never seen Princess Samiyi scared; she was only worried about her brother’s welfare, but beyond that, she never showed even the slightest sign of fear.
Tan Rou’s opinion of Samiyi could be summed up in one word—decisive!
If she were not decisive, she would not have allowed the Royal Guard to use firearms. Should the Royal Guard have accidentally killed someone, it would spell trouble not only for Tan Rou but also for Princess Samiyi herself.
Yet she still gave the Royal Guard the authority to use guns in a building full of scientists. The risks were undeniable, but the effect was evidently very good.
Tan Rou smiled unconsciously. Why would the King want to call his sister to him in his last moments instead of his only son? She now had her answer.
Rather than entrusting the nation to a worthless son, it was better to hand it over to someone more capable. And if that person happened to be his highly trusted sister, all the better.
“All right, let’s go,” Tan Rou walked over.
Xite and the others did not dare to stop the foreign woman from leaving, but he would not let the matter rest so easily. Once he returned, he planned to complain to his father—without avenging this insult by harming the foreign woman, he would not rest!
Chapter 1448: 1447 let’s be friends
Lin Yu watched as Tan Rou was led away by the group of people. It seemed that Tan Rou had forgotten he was still there, so neither of them spoke, and they just parted ways like that.
It wasn’t until Lin Yu sat in the car that Tan Rou sent him a message.
Tan Rou asked, “Where are you?”
Lin Yu glanced at the black car ahead and then replied, “I’m following behind your convoy.”
A total of five cars were escorting Tan Rou, one in front, one behind, and one on each side, with Tan Rou sitting in the car in the middle. Besides Tan Rou, there was a driver and the man who led the team inside the car.
The man didn’t say what his name was. After he got into the front passenger seat, he only said one thing, “Miss Rou, we will ensure your safe arrival at the royal palace.”
...
Afterward, he didn’t speak again. He wasn’t talking, the driver wasn’t talking, and Tan Rou wasn’t asking questions, so the atmosphere in the car was somewhat oppressive.
So Tan Rou sent a message to Lin Yu, asking where he was. After learning Lin Yu was following behind, she didn’t ask further.
The cars drove very fast. It took over half an hour for Tan Rou to arrive, but on the way back, the driver only took twenty minutes.
It was getting dark, the street lights were coming on, and Tan Rou saw large trucks parked in places beyond the reach of the lights, surrounded by people holding weapons.
Glancing at the time, it was almost the curfew, and Tan Rou wondered whether the royal city would be as calm tonight as usual.
The King was a special medical case, so Tan Rou had to live inside the palace to keep an eye on the King’s condition at all times, which made her pack her luggage and move to live directly in the palace. This was Tan Rou’s first time living inside the palace, and she did not know what kind of experience it would be.
Samiyi arranged for Tan Rou to stay in her own palace. The princess’s residence was different from the King’s. There were more green plants here, and many ponds, making it very cool even without air conditioning.
“Miss Rou, I hope you will be satisfied with it here,” Samiyi said.
Tan Rou replied, “The conditions here are so much better than the hotel—I really like it.”
Samiyi smiled, “Thank you for liking it.”
With a wave of her hand, a group of maids immediately brought up exquisite food. Contrary to Tan Rou’s expectations, the food Samiyi had prepared was not the grilled meat commonly eaten by the people of J country, but a variety of stir-fried dishes and two bowls of stewed soup.
“Thank you, Your Highness the Princess!” Tan Rou thanked.
Samiyi said, “I should be the one thanking you. I’ve heard from Rake about the research equipment you’re shipping from your country. I feel ashamed that we couldn’t provide you with a proper research environment.”
Having dealt with that group of people earlier, ninety percent of Tan Rou’s anger had subsided. Now, hearing Samiyi’s words, her anger was completely gone.
“It’s not necessary to thank me, Princess. The reason I spent the effort and money to transport equipment here is for my staff to work in a better environment, not for you,” Tan Rou said.
But Samiyi thought otherwise. Although the equipment was supposedly for Tan Rou’s staff, they would certainly not take the equipment away when they left, because Tan Rou would not miss this small amount of equipment.
Therefore, the equipment would undoubtedly be left behind, and whether or not Tan Rou asked them for the cost of the equipment, J country would benefit.
“Nevertheless, I still want to thank Miss Rou,” Samiyi raised her glass, “This is a unique wine from our country. Miss Rou, you may want to try it.”
Tan Rou was not fond of drinking, but she still took a sip of the wine Samiyi had poured, “Princess Samiyi, I don’t drink, but I must drink this glass of yours.”
Samiyi asked, “Why?”
Tan Rou answered with a smile, “I admire the princess. Your actions today were truly surprising to me. Therefore, I boldly wish to be friends with Her Highness the Princess. Would you be willing to befriend me?”
Being acquainted might mean being friends, but by “befriending,” Tan Rou was clearly chasing not just any acquaintance, but a close friend to be cherished for a lifetime.
Samiyi’s expression grew serious as she nodded solemnly, “From now on I will call you Tan Rou, and you will call me Samiyi. We will be good friends for life!”
Chapter 1449: 1448 Princess and Prince
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If the things Tan Rou had done before were for collaboration, then the things she was about to do were for a friend.
She truly admired Samiyi, a vase-like princess who had lived in the palace for over thirty years, yet possessed such great courage; Tan Rou held her in high esteem.
The interests of the royal family and the nobility were interlinked. The King had the greatest power, yet he was also constrained by the nobility. But Samiyi was different; she was fearless. She not only opposed the nobility but also dared to mobilize the King’s guard without authorization.
If others knew what Samiyi had done, she, as a princess, might well be sent to the trial stand.
“The King’s guard can’t just be mobilized at will, right?” Tan Rou asked.
...
“Yeah,” Samiyi, who had had a few drinks, had completely relaxed. She tossed her heavy jewelry and princess garments aside, and said in a very relaxed manner, “Brother hasn’t woken up yet, and I must do something while he is unconscious. The guards only take orders from His Majesty the King, so I had no choice but to use my brother’s name to mobilize them.”
Tan Rou then asked, “Aren’t you afraid they’ll find out you’re not the King?”
“Hehehe,” Samiyi laughed, “What is there to be afraid of? Could there be a worse situation than now? The King is ill, a bunch of people are coveting the throne of the Kingdom of Amorlande, and the only heir to the palace is unable to shoulder the responsibility. What else can I do?”
Tan Rou said, “Samiyi, I admire you very much.”
But Samiyi said, “Tan Rou, I envy you.”
Tan Rou admired Samiyi for her ability to handle matters; she wasn’t dealing with a company, but a nation of tens of millions of people.
Samiyi envied Tan Rou’s freedom. She had her own career, she could go wherever she wanted, and didn’t need to be managed by anyone.
The two women sat down to eat and talk, and before they knew it, they had been chatting for quite a long time.
When the moon rose, Tan Rou was a little drunk. She proposed to go rest, but just as she finished speaking, she heard the maid say that Prince Laka had arrived.
Tan Rou was instantly no longer sleepy; she wanted to hear what Laka had to say and was eager to listen to how Samiyi would explain the King’s situation to him.
Samiyi said, “Tan Rou, stay a little while longer. I’ll talk to Laka about my brother soon, and I need you to help explain his condition.”
Tan Rou rubbed her face to make herself less drowsy, “Oh, okay.”
Fortunately, the alcohol Samiyi had arranged was low proof; otherwise, Tan Rou would probably be asleep by now.
Before long, Laka hurried in. Seeing Tan Rou was there too, he calmed down a bit, “Miss Rou is here too.”
Tan Rou nodded at him, then turned her gaze to Samiyi. In the ten seconds or so it took her to turn her head, Samiyi had already dressed again.
Tan Rou admired the speed at which Samiyi got dressed in her mind.
Samiyi asked indifferently, “Laka, is there something you need?”
Laka looked at Tan Rou and then at Samiyi, before saying anxiously, “Aunt, I have something very important to tell you.”
Samiyi said, “Oh, then speak here. Tan Rou isn’t an outsider, she will be my good friend from now on.”
Laka frowned, “Aunt, you should come with me.”
Samiyi said, “Do you want to ask me about His Majesty the King?”
Laka was surprised, “How did you know?” Then he sat down and said, “Aunt, dad seems to be angry with me again. I wanted to report today’s work to him, but he ignored me. Mr. Puli said he was resting, but it should be his meal time now, he wouldn’t be resting.”
Samiyi sighed, “Laka, you are a prince. I’ve told you so many times, you must stay calm when encountering issues, don’t be hasty.”
Laka couldn’t calm down, “Aunt, I want to see dad. Please go and talk to him on my behalf.”
“He can’t see you right now.” Samiyi said, weary, “Tan Rou, can you explain for me?”
Tan Rou cleared her throat and explained, “Prince Laka, His Majesty the King indeed can’t see you right now because he is ill and needs to rest for a while.”
“How is that possible?” Laka didn’t believe it, “How can dad be ill when he’s always been so healthy?”
Chapter 1450: 1449 as a Prince
“Laka!” Samiyi suddenly became very serious, “Your father is now ill, and as a prince, you must take up the responsibility. I don’t want to see that expression on your face anymore!”
Laka was stunned. “Aunt…”
It was the first time Tan Rou had heard Samiyi speak with such a serious tone, which made her feel as if the person she had just been drinking with wasn’t Samiyi, but rather Samiyi’s brother, the King.
“Laka, you are the prince and the future king of this country. You must never panic, no matter the circumstances,” Samiyi educated Laka, “Do you know? The person your father worries about the most is you and me. Now that he is ill, we must not worry him further.”
“I don’t want to be the king!” Laka’s eyes were red. “I am not suited to be the king, only aunt is suited to be the king.”
Upon hearing this, Samiyi did not show an excited expression; she wasn’t angry, nor was she pleased. She still maintained a calm demeanor.
...
“Laka, since the establishment of the kingdom, there has never been a queen, so I can’t be the queen either,” Samiyi said, “The king has a son, and the king’s son can inherit the throne, so others should not covet this position. I cannot be the queen, and Busodi cannot possibly be the king. Only you, my child, you can be the king.”
“I simply cannot be the king!” Laka was utterly distressed. “I’m so clumsy and always mess up, always making Dad angry. How could I be the king?”
“Stop crying!” Samiyi scolded, “You are a prince, you cannot shed tears!”
However, Laka cried even harder, a tall, big man lying on the table weeping like a baby separated from his parents.
“I don’t want to be the king, I can’t be a good king, aunt should be the queen!” Laka kept wailing.
Samiyi’s head ached from his wailing. She quickly said, “Stop crying, your dad isn’t dead yet. If you keep crying like this, you’ll have to be the king tomorrow!”
Laka snuffled and then sat up to wipe his tears. “I don’t want to be the king…”
“I’m not asking you to be the king right now. I’m just asking you to start taking some responsibilities and gradually take over your dad’s duties,” Samiyi explained. “Your father, with this illness, likely won’t recover to his previous level of health, so from now on, you need to handle state affairs and help relieve your dad’s pressure.”
“I don’t want to be the king…” Laka seemed only aware of this matter, continually repeating the same phrase.
Samiyi was extremely frustrated, not knowing where she found a wooden stick as thick as a thumb, and she hit Laka’s buttocks twice with it.
While hitting him, Samiyi yelled, “Will you listen to me? What are you saying? If you don’t want to be the king, who else will be the king? Do you expect Busodi to be the king?”
Laka, holding his buttocks, whispered, “Aunt, please lower your voice. Dad’s spies are still outside.”
His Majesty the King himself was lying in bed, his life hanging in the balance, so Princess Samiyi wasn’t afraid of a few eavesdroppers. She loudly said, “Go ahead and listen, if you have anything to say, go complain to His Majesty the King, but you better not let me know what you said, or even His Majesty the King won’t be able to save you!”
Several maids quickly moved away; they were smart people and knew very well who held the reins in the palace now.
Samiyi placed the stick on the table, looking down at Laka authoritatively, “Show me the demeanor of a prince. Don’t look so pitiful. Who is bullying you?”
Tan Rou thought subconsciously, Isn’t it you bullying him? Scolding him and hitting him with a stick, it’s no wonder he’s scared.
However, Tan Rou was just an onlooker. All she needed to do was sit there quietly, without getting involved in the royal family’s internal disputes.
Samiyi kept reasoning with Laka, but Laka just wouldn’t listen. Listening at the side, Tan Rou felt tired, thinking that if an ordinary family had such a worthless child, they would be furious, let alone Laka being a prince of a nation.